Writing instrument



Nov. 19, 1957 w. H. KERSTEN WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed July 5, 1955 v INVEN TOR. Maw; 16 Rem-i e BY 9% QMCBMW United States Patent llice 2,813,5ill Patented Nov. 19, 1957 William H. Kersten, Janesville, Wis, .assignor to The .Parker 'Pen Company, .Janesville, Wis., .a corporation ofWisconsin Application-M15 5, 1955, SeriallNo. 519,728

5 Claims. c1. nit-42.03

The present invention relates to writing instruments.

The invention relates more particularly to retractable writing instruments of the general type including a barrel or holder and a writing unit having a writing point mounted in the barrel for sliding movement between a retracted position in which the writing point is concealed .in the barrel and a projected position in which the writing point is disposed forwardly beyond the barrel for writing.

object .of the invention is to provide a retractable writing instrument of novel construction in which the writing unit can be projected by a simple manipulation and is solidly and non-yieldingly held .in projected position :until released.

Another object is to provide a retractable writing instrument of the foregoing general character, having a writing .unit releasably held in retracted position, and releasably held in projected position and released therefrom ,and conditioned for retraction by means of novel construction which includes .a yieldable pocket clip ma- 7 nipulable either manually or by insertion of the instrument into the pocket and inserting the pocket piece under the clip.

A further object is to provide :a retractable writing instrument in which the writing unit .is .releasably held in retracted position by magnetic means, .and held .solidily and non-yieldingly in projected position by a fixed shoulder, and released from the shoulder by magnetic means .at least partially in the pocket clip and. rendered active by movement of the clip in inserting a pocket piece under the clip.

Other objects and advantages .of the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a writing instrument embodying the principles of the present invention, and showing the writing unit in projected position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the writing unit in retractedposition; and

Fig. 13 .is a cross sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. l.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the particular writing instrument illustrated is a ball point pen, but it is pointed out that the principles of the invention may be embodied writing instruments of other kinds, such for example, as :a fountain pen, and the invention is not limited to a ball pointpen.

The writing instrument or pen includes .a barrel or holder '12, preferably made up of two sections, a forward section 14 and arearisection 16, which may also be referred to as acap. The material of the barrel may be as desired, such, for example, as plastic or metal. The barreldefines a chamber madeup :of a bore portion 18 in the. front sectionand :abore portion .20 in the rear section or "cap which are .in :alignment when the sections are secured together. The sections are detachably secured together by suitable means such, for example, as a screw threaded connection 24 for quick detachment by the user for replacement or insertion of a writing unit shown generally at 26. The writing unit 26 in the present instance is a ball point writing unit and assuch includes a reservoir 28 which may be of large diameter for retaining the main portion of theink supply, andleading from the reservoir is a stem3'0 of reduced diameter having a ball writing element 32 in its forward end.

The forward bar-rel section 1=4has in its forward end a bore receiving the stem 30 and of such axial dime-nsion thatin all positions of the writing unit the stem has sliding and guiding movement therein. The writing unit is freely slidable in the bore 18, 20 between retracted position of Fig. 2 in which the Writing point is concealed within the barrel, and the projected position of Fig. 1 inwhich the writing point is projected beyond the barrel in a writing position.

Suitable means is provided for moving the writing unit to retracted position and for retaining it in that position which in the present instance takes the form of magnetic means comprising a pair of magnetic elements 38 and 40. At least one of these elements, and preferably the element 38, is a permanent magnet. The latter is suitably secured in the b'ore 20 as by a press fit and positioned for engagement by the element 40 when the writing unit is in retracted position (Fig. 2). The element 40 may be in the form of'ap'lug suitably fitted in the rear end of the casing of the reservoir 28 and closing that end except for 'a small aperture for venting the interior of the writing unit. Upon release of the writing unit from its held projected position, which is done in a manner to be described later, the magnetic means moves the writing element to retracted position. The writing unit may be released from retracted position and moved to projected position "by inertia of the unit in shaking or jarring the pen by the handin forward direction. Magneticmeans for retracting a writing unit in an instrument is claimed broadly in my copending application, Ser. No. 490,818, filed February 28, 1955. The present application is dinected to a novel means for holding the unit in projected position, means for releasing itfrom that position, and magnetic means for retracting the unit.

It is desired to provide for retaining the writing unit in solid or non-yielding projected position. This is done by an internal shoulder 'in the barrel engaged by the writing unit. Such a shoulder is shown at 42 and is positioned to one side of the bore. The shoulder extends circum'ferentially no greater than a semicircle and the rear end of the writing unit when moved laterally into position in line with the shoulder engages (it, to be held in projected position. The bore 20 above the shoulder may be substantially cylindrical in shape(Fig. 3) and dimensioned for free sliding movement ,of the upper end of the writing unit. The dimensions are also preferably such thatthe writing unit. does not have undue side play. To the end of preventing drag between the writing unit and the bore, the plug 4.0 is tapered so that engagement between the plug and surface ,of the bore takes place only in the edge at the upper end of the plug.

The means for moving the writing unit laterally into a holding position for engaging the shoulder preferably takes the form of spring means which is constituted by the pocket clip 44. The clip is secured to the pen barrel in a usual manner and is of resilient nature so that its lower free end is capable of springing action. An aperture or opening lo is formed .in the rear barrel section for receiving the portion 48 of the clip which is bent or shaped inwardly so as to extend through the aperture for .engagement with the writing unit at the upper endwof the latter. When the writing unit is released from. the ,re- 'trac'tjing means by shaking it, .as described above, the unit moves forwardly and after the unit p sses he shoulder, the inner bent portion 48 of the clip, which has constant sliding engagement with the reservoir portion of the unit, moves the upper end of the writing unit laterally into alignment with the shoulder. The plug 40 thus engages the shoulder and provides solid and nonyielding retention of the unit in projected position. As noted from the drawings, the aperture 46 and clip are disposed diametrically opposite the shoulder.

For releasing the writing unit from the shoulder, the spring clip must of course be released from its inner holding position. It is also desired to provide means for actually drawing the writing unit away from the shoulder in response to outward movement or flexing of the clip. This is preferably accomplished by inclusion of magnetic means in the clip which attracts the writing unit in the direction noted. Such a construction may include an insert b which is a permanent magnet and secured in the clip in a suitable manner such as by means of threaded connection. If desired, the clip may be thickened as at 52 for providing greater support for the magnet insert. The inner end of the magnet may be substantially flush with the inner surface of the clip and the clip is preferably so formed so that the clip may easily ride over the pocket piece when the instrument is inserted in a pocket.

Upon flexing the pocket clip outwardly, the magnet 50 attracts the upper end of the writing unit in that direction. For this purpose the casing of the reservoir 28 may be of appropriate metal to form a magnetic element for the magnet or, if desired, the plug 40 may be extended into the casing sufficiently to provide attraction for the magnet. The magnet easily withdraws the upper end of the unit away from the shoulder and when it is so withdrawn and in line with the upper cylindrical portion of the bore 20, it is attracted by the magnet 38, the magnetic means 38-40 being substantially stronger than the magnet 50, and in fact preferably sufficient to retract the writing unit when it is in vertical point-end-down position so that the pen need not be inverted in order for the retraction of the writing unit to be accomplished. The magnet 50 because of its sliding action on the unit in the longitudinal movements of the latter does not, from a practical standpoint, interfere with the action of the retracting magnetic means.

The user may retract the pen by placing a finger or thumb on the lower end of the clip and flexing it outwardly, but if this should be overlooked, the retraction will be accomplished merely by the act of inserting the instrument in the pocket and inserting the pocket piece under the clip, which springs the clip outwardly, to effect retraction as noted above. The lower extremity of the clip is so shaped that the pocket piece easily enters under the clip and cams and flexes the clip outwardly.

The usual manufacturing inaccuracies will enable sufficient play between the stem 30 and the bore 36 to enable the necessary lateral movement of the upper end of the unit which will be very slight in angular dimension, as will be understood, because of the small amount of movement encountered and the length of the unit.

To replace the writing unit 26 the user merely separates the barrel sections whereby the unit will extend out of the section in which it remains usually in the lower section. The user merely grasps the unit and removes it and inserts another. On reassembling the barrel sections the unit will readily pass by the lower end of the clip inside the barrel because of the curved shape of the clip,

I which enables a camming action to be produced.

I claim:

1. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel, a writing unit mounted in the barrel for sliding movement between a retracted position and a projected position, means for urging the unit toward and releasably holding it in retracted position, the unit being movable to projected position by inertia action of the unit, the barrel having a shoulder intermediate its ends engageable by the unit in projected position for holding it in that position, a pocket clip on the barrel having a movable portion, and magnetic means including magnetic elements on the clip and unit respectively positioned and effective when the unit is in projected position, in response to outward movement of the clip, for moving the unit out of engagement with the shoulder and into position for retraction by the retracting means.

2. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel, a writing unit mounted in the barrel for sliding movement between a retracted position and a projected position, means for urging the unit toward and holding it in retracted position, the barrel having a shoulder engageable by the unit in projected position for holding it in projected position, a pocket clip on the barrel having a movable portion, and magnetic means including magnetic elements on the clip and unit respectively positioned and effective when the unit is in projected position, in response to outward movement of the clip, for moving the unit out of engagement with the shoulder and into position for retraction by the retracting means.

3. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel, a writing unit mounted in the barrel for sliding movement between a retracted position and a projected position, a pair of magnetic elements at least one of which is a permanent magnet mounted one in the rear end of the unit and the other in the barrel rearwardly thereof, the barrel having an internal shoulder on one side engageable by the unit in projected position and the unit being movable at least at the portion adjacent the shoulder laterally into a first position engaging the shoulder and a second position away from the shoulder and capable of being retracted by the retracting means, resilient means yieldingly urging the unit laterally into the first said position; said resilient means being manually movable in direction away from the shoulder, and magnetic means in the resilient means and unit respectively operative in response to so moving the resilient means for drawing the unit from the said first position to the said second position.

4. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel, a Writing unit contained within the barrel for sliding movemoent between a retracted position and a projected position, retracting means for releasably retaining the unit in retracted position, projection-holding means for releasably retaining the unit in projected position, a release member movable away from said projection-holding means, and a magnetic means for releasing the unit from the projection-holding means to enable retraction by the retracting means, said magnetic means including a magnetic element in said release member and unit respectively operative in response to moving said release member away from said projection-holding means for magnetically drawing the unit away from said projectionholding means to release the unit therefrom for retraction by the retracting means.

5. A retractable writing instrument comprising a barrel, a writing unit having a writing point mounted in the barrel for sliding movement between a retracted position and a projected position, retracting means for releasably holding the unit in retracted position, the unit in projected position having a holding and a released position from only the latter of which it is capable of being retracted by the retracting means, projecting-holding means for engaging the unit in said holding position for retaining it in projected position, resilient means biasing said unit into the projection-holding means for releasably retaining the unit in said holding position, said resilient means being movable to eliminate said biasing, and magnetic means for moving the unit from the said holding position to the said released position, said magnetic means including magnetic elements in the resilient means and unit respectively operative in response to moving said resilient means for magnetically drawing the unit from said holding position to said released position.

(References on following page) 5 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,678,578 UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,121 Spear May 3, 1887 2,536,923 Fehling Jan. 2, 1951 2,580,754 Frentzel Jan. 1, 195 948,908

6 Bonanno May 18, 1954 Salfelder Jan. 21, 1955 OSullivan Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 7, 1949 

